one way, one truth, one life
what are people like without God?
people did not think it was important to have a true knowledge of God. so God left them and allowed them to have their own worthless thinking and to do things they should not do. they are filled with every kind of sin, evil, selfishness and hatred. they are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, lying and thinking the worst about each other. they gossip and say evil things about each other. they hate God. they are rude and conceited and boast about themselves. they invent ways of doing evil. they do not obey their parents. they are foolish, they do not keep their promises, and they show no kindness or mercy to others. (romans 1:28-31)
how did God intend things to be?
the God who made the whole world and everything in it is the lord of the land and the sky. he does not live in temples built by human hands. this God is the one who gives life, breath and everything else to people. he does not need any help from them; he has everything he needs. God began by making one person, and from him came all the different people who live everywhere in the world. God decided exactly when and where they must live. God wanted them to look for him and perhaps search all around for him and find him, though he is not far from any of us: 'we live in him. we walk in him. we are in him.' some of your own poets have said: 'for we are his children.' (acts 17:24-28)
what is the result of man's disobedience to God?
surely the lord's power is enough to save you. he can hear you when you ask him for help. it is your evil that has separated you from your God. your sins cause him to turn away from you, so he does not hear you. (isaiah 59:1-2)
when people sin, they earn what sin pays - death. but God gives us a free gift - life for ever in Christ Jesus our lord. (romans 6:23)
what is God's plan for bringing people back into a close relationship with himself?
we all have wandered away like sheep; each of us has gone his own way. but the lord has put on him the punishment for all the evil we have done. (isaiah 53:6)
when we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our need, Christ dies for us, although we were living against God. very few people will die to save the life of someone else although perhaps for a good person someone might possibly die. but God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners. so through Christ we will surely be saved from God's anger, because we have been made right with God by the blood of Christ's death. while we were God's enemies, he made friends with us through the death of his son. surely, now that we are his friends, he will save us through his son's life. and not only that, now we are also very happy in God through our lord Jesus Christ. through him we are now God's friends again. (romans 5:6-11)
if you use your mouth to say "Jesus is lord," and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. we believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. and we use our mouths to say that we believe, and so we are saved. as the scripture says, "anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed." [isaiah 28:16]. that scripture says "anyone" because there is no difference between those who are jews and those who are not. the same lord is the lord of all and gives many blessings to all who trust in him, as the scripture says, "anyone" who calls on the lord will be saved." [joel 2:32] (romans 10:9-13)
one way, one truth, one what?
Jesus said, "i am the way, and the truth, and the life. the only way to the Father is through me. (john 14:6)
for more information please see the
faith section.
